Washing machine



Oct. 2, 1956 A. R. CONSTANTINE WASHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 14, 1953 INVENTOR.

ARTHUR R. CONSTANTINE BY ATTORNEY.

Oct. 2, 1956 A. R. CONSTANTINE' WASHING MACHINE Filed July 14, 1955 V 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ARTHUR H. CONSTANT/NE BY ATTORNEY WASHING MACHINE Filed July 14, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 O O O 0 0 INVENTOR. ARTHUR x2. co/vsm/v 7'/NE BY ATTORNEY.

Oct. 2, 1956 A. R. CONSTANTINE WASHING MACHINE 5 SheetsSheet 4 Filed July 14, 1953 INVENTOR. ARTHUR e. CONSTANT/NE. BY

ATTORNEY- Oct. 2, 1956 A. R. CONSTANTINE 2,764,884

WASHING MACHINE Filed July 14, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. ARTHUR. i?- CONSTANT/NE TTORNE).

WASHING MACHINE Arthur R. Constantine, Longmeadow, Mass. Application July 14, 1953, Serial No. 367,861 Claims. (Cl. 6824) This invention relates to washing machines particularly adapted for domestic use.

The invention is applied to a machine of the so-called tumble action type wherein the clothes are washed by tumbling them in a rotating cylindrical tub in the presence of washing liquids and the speed of rotation of the machine is subsequently increased to remove the major portion of washing liquid from the clothes by centrifugal force. In the majority of prior art devices a separate cylinder rotating inside a tub of larger diameter has been used thereby providing both a container for the wash water and a means to tumble and rotate the clothes for centrifugal extraction. In part to accomplish a reduction in cost one type of prior art washer has provided a single container rotatable in carrying clothes in wash water with special provision for removing water from the container during the centrifugal extraction at increased speed. One such device provides a pickup tube stationary relative to the rotation of the tub with an inlet position near the periphery of the cylinder positioned with its open end in a direction opposite to rotation thereby to force water into the pickup tube by the higher speed rotation of the cylinder. In such devices it has been found that after the completion of the washing or rinsing of clothes at tumbling speed it is important to remove the free water at tumbling speed without centrifugal action as otherwise the free water containing precipitated soil will be strained through the clothes during the high speed centrifugal extraction and be deposited on the clothes, a situation very detrimental to the satisfactory operation of such machine.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention provide a single tub tumble-action washer with a pickup tube water ejecting mechanism wherein the free water is transferred from the tumbling compartment to a separate pickup compartment prior to the high speed centrifugal extraction of the cycle of operation of the machine.

A further object is to provide a single tub washing compartment with mechanism to pick up and transfer free Water from the said compartment to a separate compartment at substantially the same speed of rotation as used for washing thereby to remove objectionable precipitated soiled material contained in the wash water before an opportunity is provided to deposit such soiled material on the clothes.

It is another object to provide in addition to the means to transfer free water to a separate compartment at tumbling washing speed, a further mechanism to assure the transfer of liquid removed from the clothes during centrifuging operation into the separate compartment used for transfer of free wash water thereby to provide for pickup of such water by ejector tube at the centrifugal extraction speed of rotation.

It is a further object to provide a mechanism for tumble-action washing and centrifugal extraction of water after the completion of washing and rinsing operations of such construction as to prevent objectionable redeposition of soil on washed clothes and also to eliminate the duplication of containers common to prior art de- Patent 2,764,884 Fatented Oct. 2, 1956 vices for accomplishing this purpose, and also to provide a mechanism using the rotation of the container necessary for centrifugal extraction as a means to provide suitable pumping mechanism without the necessity for separate and additional devices for assuring that Wash water can be pumped from the machine to an outlet higher than the bottom of the washing container.

The above and other objects of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view in elevation through a washing machine embodying the essential features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the washing compartment of the tub, the view being taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a centrifugally operated valve, the view being taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the washing compartment of the tub similar to that of Fig. 2; but, showing a modified construction;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view through a portion of the tub further illustrating the modification of Fig. 4 and being taken along the line 55 thereof;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the construction at the axis of rotation of the tub showing the provisions for fluid inlet and outlet and illustrating the manner in which the tub is mounted for rotation.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view through the shaft taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 6 and illustrates the operative connections to the valve which prov-ides communication between the washing compartment and the discharging compartment at low speed;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 99 of Fig. l and illustrating the general arrangement of the stationary ejector tube; and

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of Fig. 9 showing one method of construction for the ejector tube.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, the invention will be fully described.

An internal frame structure is employed which supports substantially all of the operating components, surrounded by an external cabinet of substantially smooth, thin sheet metal, to present a good appearance and to furnish an enclosure for the mechanism. The machine may be operated with or without the cabinet, and the latter may be removed or detached without disconnecting any of the operating elements.

The internal support frame an angular base 11, to which is pairs of braces 12, 13 and 14. are secured together and structure.

Attached to the braces in a secure manner is a bearing housing 15, which is shown integrally cast, but if preferred, may be built up of tubular and sheet metal members which may be welded or brazed together. Fitted into each end of the bearing housing 15 (see Fig. 6) are anti-friction bearings 16, either of the ball or roller type as may be desired, which rotatably support a tubular shaft 17, to which is rigidly fixed a rear tub plate 18.

Attached to and rotatable with said plate 18 is a basically cylindrical compartmented clothes and liquid receiving tub 19. The tub 19 consists primarily of a washing compartment 19A bounded by a cylindrical wall 20, a forward wall 21, and a rear wall 22. Attached to the cylindrical wall 20, by suitable means such as spot-weldof the chassis consists of secured, on opposite sides, The members of the pairs they converge to form a rigid ing, are a plurality of circumferentially spaced baffles 23 to impart a tumble action to the materials on rotation of the tub 19.

At its rearward end, the tub 19 is provided with a discharging compartment 193 bounded by an extension of the cylindrical wall 26, the plate 18, and the wall 22. The cylindrical wall 20 and the plate 18 are held together in water-tight condition by means of a flexible sealing member 24, made of rubber or other suitable material, and a clamp ring drawn together by means of clamp bolts 26 (seeFig. 9).

The forward end of the tub 19 is provided with an opening 27 for the insertion and removal of clothes. Securely attached around the opening 27 is an annular flexible bellows-like gasket 28 which rotates with the front open end of the tub 1?. A door assembly 29 is mounted on the front of the machine in spaced relationship to the opening 27. The detailed construction of door assembly 29 forms no part of the present invention therefore it will suflice to say that as is evidentfrom the drawing the construction thereof is such that it will rotate with the tub 19 by reason of frictional engagement with the gasket 28 and further means are provided to assure a splashproof rotating seal and to compensate for misalignment of the axis of rotation of the door assembly 29 and the tub 19, the door assembly 29 rotating on a stationary bearing 2%.

In automatic operation of the machine, water, either hot or warm as called for, is supplied through a water valve represented by 30, which may be equipped with a metering orifice designed to supply an identical quantity of water in a selected period of time, regardless of variations of water pressure; in the supply lines 31 and 32. The valve may be of the thermostatically controlled and solenoid operated type. This type of mixing valve is well known in the art the detailed construction of which forms no part of this invention; hence, it is not deemed necessary to illustrate the device in detail.

The cyclic operation of the machine may be controlled by electric circuits which are opened and closed in predetermined sequence by cams in a motor driven timer 33, which is a device also Well known in the art.

A selector switch represented by 34- may permit a choice of hot or warm water for the main washing part of the cycle. Warnf water is preferably used for all rinsing cycles, and is controlled by the main timer 33.

The tub 19 will preferably operate at two diflerent speeds. One speed being a low speed calculated so that the clothes being washed will be alternately lifted from and tumbled back into the wash water. The other speed is higher for the purpose of centrifugally extracting the water from the clothes. These two speeds are provided by an electric motor 35 and a two-speed transmission 36. The speeds may be changed by operating a solenoid 37 and a clutch shifting lever 33, control thereof being furnished by the timer 33. This type of motor and transmission are well known in the art and are not a part of this invention.

The transmission of power is through a \/-belt 39 con nected witha-small pulley 49 on the transmission 36, and a large pulley 41 which is integral with the plate 18. In this way power is transmitted without having to transmit any torque through the support shaft 17 while the use of a single, imperforate tub rigidly secured to shaft 17 also provides the unique feature of rendering unnecessary the sealing of the main shaft bearings against damage from water leakage.

Located inside and at the rear of the tub discharge compartment 193 is a radially extending stationary ejector tube 42 having an outer curved end 43 with an entrance opening 44 in close proximity to the inside wall of a flanged portion 45 of the plate 13. Only one tube 42 is necessary, as shown, but two diametrically opposite tubes might be provided to equalize the torque load during the discharge of water at the Centrifugingspeed. The

.means of perforations ejector tube 42 is shown in section in Fig. 10 as being formed of two stamped members 42A joined together by suitable means such as spot-welding through flanges 42B. Such construction provides an economical structure in addition to providing a stream-lined contour to lessen the frictional load during the discharge of water.

The ejector tube 42 is attached at its inner end to a coupling by means of a set-screw 47 (see Fig. 6). The coupling 46 is fixed in a central position by fitting over the end of the tubular shaft 17. Suitable packing means 48 is provided at one end of the coupling 46 to seal the joint against water leakage. The coupling 46 is provided with a curved passage 49 which affords a substantially unrestricted flow passage for water discharge. The outlet end of the coupling 46 receives the inlet end of a, stationary discharge tube 50 which passes through a hollow stationary tubular shaft 51 which in turn passes through the hollow main tubular shaft 17. The outlet endof the discharge tube 50 is connected to a flexible discharge hose 52 which carries the ejected wash or rinse water to a suitabledrain.

Also passing through the hollow stationary tubular shaft 51 is a stationary water inlet tube 53, connected by means of a flexible hose 54 to the mixing valve 39. The inlet tube 53 also passes through an opening in the coupling 46 to a point adjacent the rear wall 22 of the washing compartment 19A. The wall 22 is provided centrally with a perforated cap 55 mounted for rotation therewith, but preferably readily removable for cleaning purposes. The cap 55 serves as a guard to prevent clothes revolving at high speed from coming in contact with the stationary elements.

In the normal sequential operation of the washing machine, clothes or fabrics of any kind to be washed are placed in the washing compartment l9A of the tub 19 through the access opening 27 along with a suitable quantity of soap or detergent. During the washing operation, Water is delivered to the washing compartment 19A through the tube 53 and the cap 55. Upon rotation of the tub, the clothes are repeatedly lifted from and dropped back into the washing solution by the baffles 23.

During the washing operation there is no means of communication between the washing compartment 12A and the discharging compartment 193; therefore, all of the washing solution is maintained within the washing compartment 19A.

Means is, however, provided for transferring the free water (that not actually absorbed by the materials) from the Washing compartment 19A to the discharging compartment 193 at the termination of the washing and rinsing cycles. Mounted on the back wall 22 of the washing compartment 19A and extending partially into the area defined as the discharge compartment 193 (see Figs. 1 and 2) is a scoop-like element 56 so arranged as to define two diametrically opposite water lifting comparmtents communicating with the Washing compartment 19A by 57 adjacent the marginal edges of the wall 22 and entirely within the area defined by the marginal edges of the element 56. The element 56 is so shaped that upon rotation of the tub 19 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 a volume of water will be elevated and directed toward the axis of rotation. Theelement 56 is provided centrally with an opening 58 which is normally sealed by a valve 59 under the bias of a spring 60. The valve 59 is mounted for rotation and for sliding movement axially upon a tubular sleeve 61 which in turn is rigidly secured in an open end of the-coupling 46. The sleeve 61 has diametrically opposite elongated slots 62 therein which are arranged to receive a transversely extending pin 63 (see Fig. 8). The pin 63 is attached to a pull-rod 64 by means of a connector 65. The pull-rod 64 extends axially through the coupling 46 and the hollow tubular shaft 51. At its other terminal end, the pull-rod 64 is provided with a stop-collar 66 which engages one endofan operating lever 67 attached atits other end to a plunger 68 comprising the core of a solenoid 69 mounted upon a bracket 70 securely attached to the bearing housing 15. One leg 71 of the bracket 70 is provided with a pivot connection 72 for the operating lever 67. An analysis of this construction will show that actuation of the solenoid 69 will result in a movement of the pull-rod 64 to the right such that the ends of pin 63 will engage the hub of valve 59 causing it to move to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 6.

It will now be apparent that when it is desired to transfer the free water from the washing compartment 19A to the discharging compartment 19B at the end of a washing or rinsing cycle, actuation of the solenoid 69 will result in a movement of the valve 59 away from the opening 58; whereupon the water which is continually being directed toward the axis of rotation by the element 56 will be deflected into the discharging compartment 19B through the opening 58 by means of deflectors 73 mounted upon the wall 22.

With this arrangement the free water is very rapidly transferred away from the clothes in the washing compartment 19A into the discharging compartment 19B while the tub 19 is being rotated at the low speed without the undesirable straining of all of the water through the clothes and resultant filtering of suspended soap and soil particles back into the fabrics.

When substantially all of the free water has been transferred into the discharging compartment 19B the solenoid 37 is energized to actuate the clutch shifting lever 38 in the transmission 36 to cause the high speed gears to rotate the tub 19 at a much faster speed and one suitable for centrifugal extraction.

As soon as the speed increases to the point where centrifugal force overcomes the force of gravity, the water in the discharging compartment 19B is thrown against the outer periphery thereof in the form of an annulus of flat cross-section. This flat ring of water rotating at a high speed, impinges against the opening 44 in the ejector tube 42 and transforms the tube 19 into a powerful centrifugal pump capable of discharging the Washing fluid through the drain hose 52 with a force greater than needed for any normal requirement.

At the same time, the water which has been absorbed by the clothes and retained within the washing compartment 19A will be centrifuged out of the fabrics to form an annulus along the cylindrical wall 20. It should be noted that the cylindrical wall 20 is slightly tapered so it has a larger diameter toward the wall 22. The centrifuged water will, of course, pass along the tapered wall 20 until it reaches the largest internal diameter. An inspection of Figs. 13 will show that the tub 19 is provided with two diametrically opposite centrifugally operated valves 74 arranged so as to normally seal openings 75 in the lifting compartments formed by the element 56. When the rotative speed of the tub 19 has reached a certain predetermined amount, centrifugal force will cause these valves to swing outwardly to uncover the openings 75 thereby providing a communicating passage between the washing compartment 19A and the discharging compartment 1913 through the openings 75 and the perforations 57. The remaining Water within the fabrics will then be caused to be likewise discharged through the ejector tube 42.

It should be noted that during low-speed rotation of the tub 19 the ejector tube 42 remains inactive due to the very low centrifugal forces developed at that speed, which forces are somewhat less than the force of gravity.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the construction of the valves 74 and their operation will be described in greater detail.

The valve 74 is comprised of a sealing member 76 made of rubber or other suitable material, and normally disposed to seal the opening 75 under the bias of a compression spring 77. The compression spring 77 at one end thereof contacts a disc 78 securely attached to the sealing member 76 and at the other end thereof contacts a plate 79 securely fastened to the wall 20 by means of studs 80 and nuts 81. Suitable sealing means may be provided between the studs 80 and the wall 20 to maintain a watertight seal at all times. The disc 78 is secured to one end of a shaft 82 slidable in a guide sleeve 83 which is secured to the plate 79. The opposite end of the shaft 82 is secured to a larger disc 84. It may now be seen that a movement of the disc 84 in a downward direction will result in a compression of the spring 77 and a clearance of the opening 75. The weight of the disc 84 and the compressive force of the spring 77 are calculated such that at a predetermined rotative speed of the tub 19, the centrifugal force acting on the disc 84 will overcome the compressive force of the spring 77.

Following the ejection of wash water in the manner described, the valve 30 may be actuated to cause clean rinse water to be admitted to the washing compartment 19A where a rinsing operation is performed upon the clothes by the repeated lifting from and dropping back into the water at a low tumbling speed. During this phase of the cycle the valves 59 and 74 are closed to maintain the water in the washing compartment 19A. After a predetermined period of time has elapsed the valve 59 is again opened for a predetermined period to cause the rinse water to be transferred to the discharging compartment 19B in the manner previously described. The tub 19 is then accelerated rapidly to the high speed to eject the rinse water by centrifugal action through the ejector tube 42.

The rinsing operation may be repeated as many times as desired, the control thereof being efiected through the timer 33. After the final rinse, the ejecting cycle, if permitted to continue for an appreciable time, insures that the maximum amount of water is removed before removing the clothes for use or for ironing.

It will be noted that the use of a stationary ejector tube 42, with the tub 19 acting as a centrifugal pump, permits many economies of design and construction, and permits a comparable washing operation to be performed in appreciably less time than has heretofore been possible. For example, it has heretofore been considered necessary to use a rotatable perforated basket or cylinder within a stationary, imperforate tub, whereas in the construction described, only a single tub is necessary.

Also, it has previously been necessary to use a separate power-driven pump with controls for either clutching or tie-clutching same at predetermined periods. In this invention removal of wash or rinse water is an automatic function of the higher spin or extraction speed.

It has further been customary with the double tub construction to require complicated precautionary controls to prevent the inner basket from being rotated at the high spin speed before the free water has been drained; the lack of this would overload the motor because of the frictional drag effect between the two tubs. As previously described, this invention makes these precautionary controls unnecessary, and a high speed spin is achieved directly from a tumbling speed with a considerable saving of time in the over-all cycle.

It should be noted that, in addition to eliminating the possibility of considerable redeposition of soil particles, the transferring of the water from the washing compartment to the discharging compartment before the ejecting portion of the cycle, results in an extremely improved loading condition inasmuch as the bulk of the tub load is placed closer to the bearings and the drag effect otherwise created by the baffles and the clothing passing through the water is completely eliminated.

One modification of the invention is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In these illustrations of an alternate construction identical reference numerals are used to represent like parts in the preferred embodiment described above.

In this construction the rear Wallis perforated throughout substantially its entire area with a multiplicity of perforations 22A. A wall made of wire screening might be is imperforate except for the discharge opening 58 centrally thereof. Between the walls 22 and ZZBthere is provided a pair of diametricallyopposite scoop-like elements 56A constructed in such a manner that upon rotation of the tub 19 in the direction indicated by the .arrow in Fig. 5, a volume of water is caused to be directed thereby toward the axis of rotation and to be deflectedby the deflectors 73 toward the discharge opening 58 in the same manner as previously described with respect to the preferred embodiment.

In this embodiment the cylindrical wall 20.is provided with two diametrically opposite outwardly extending recesses 20A providing communication of the space between the walls22 and 22A and the discharging compartment 193. Centrifugally operated valves 74 are provided at these recesses to provide for transfer of centrifuged water from the washing compartment 19A. into the discharging compartment 1913 at high speed of rotation.

The operation of the modified construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 may be identical with the operation of the preferred embodiment described above.

It is further contemplated that means might be provided in the modified construction whereby the tub 19.wil1 be rotated in opposite directions at the low. speed by providing a reversible motor and modified transmission. In an arrangement of this type the tub 19 would be rotated,

counter-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 4 for tumbling the clothes in the water during the washing and rinsing cycles. It is evident that the scoop-like elements 56A will not 0perate with this direction of rotation to direct water toward the axis of rotation; therefore, with such a construction it is possible to eliminate the valve 59 and its actuating mechanism. When it is then desired to transfer the wash or rinse water from the washing compartment to the discharging compartment the motor may be reversed so that the tub 19 will be rotated in a clockwise direction in order that the elements 56A will become effective to transfer the liquid in the described manner.

The foregoing description of variousmodifications illustrate that various departures from the preferred embodiment can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

While the invention has been described by reference to various illustrative embodiments, it is not intended that it be limited to any specific embodiment shown or described, nor otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a fabric washing and rinsing and drying apparatus, a support, a unitary tub rotatable on said support on a non-vertical axis and in a certain direction, said tub having a washing and rinsing compartment and a separate discharging compartment normally closed from communication with said washing and rinsing compartment, variable speed operating means for rotating said tub at a low washing and rinsing speed and at a relatively higher fluid extracting speed, means within said tub operable for opening communication and for transferring fluid from said washing compartment to said discharging compartment at said low speed, and a stationary ejector tube within said discharging compartment having an inlet opening disposed in opposition to the direction of rotation of said tub whereby at said fluid extracting speed the fluid within said tub is forcefully removed therefrom.

2. In a fabric washing and rinsing and centrifugal drying apparatus, a support, a unitary tub rotatable on said support on a substantially horizontal axis, a washing and rinsing compartment within said tub, a discharging compartment within said tub normally closed from communication with said washing and rinsing compartment, variable speed operating means for rotating said tub at a low washing and rinsing speedand at a substantially higher fluid, extracting speed, selectively operable means. within said. tub: operable for opening; communication and for transferring fluid from said washing compartment to said discharging compartment at said low speed, and means within said discharging compartment operable at said higher speed to forcefully discharge fluid from said tub; said last named means being inoperative at said low speed.

3. In a fabric washing and rinsing and drying apparatus, a support, a unitary tu'b rotatable on said support ona non-vertical axis, a wall within said tub dividing said tub into separate normally non-communicating washing and discharging compartments, means to admit washing fluid into said washing compartment, variable speed operating means forv rotatingsaid tub at a low washing speed and at a relatively higher fluid extracting speed, selectively operable-means within said tub and associated with said wall for opening communication and for transferring fluid from said washing compartment into said discharging compartment at said low speed, and means Within said discharging compartment operable atsaid higher speed to forcefully discharge fluid from said tub.

4. In a washing and centrifugal extracting machine, a support, a unitary tub rotatble on said support on a nonvertical axis, means within said tub dividing same into separate normally non-communicating washing and discharging compartments, means to admit washing fluid into said washing compartment, a plurality of inwardly projecting baffle members within said washing compartment, variable speed operating means for rotating said tub at a low washing speed and at a relatively higher fluid extracting speed, selectively operable means within said tub for open-ing communication and for transferring fluid from said Washing compartment into said discharging compartment, and stationary ejector tube means within said discharging compartment, whereby at said low speed materials within said tub are tumbled in the washing fluid by said baffle members, said fluid being subsequently transferred to said discharging compartment by said selectively operable means, and said fluid. is thereafter caused to be forcefully discharged from said discharging compartrnent by said tube means upon rotation of said tub at said higher fluid extracting speed.

5. Ina washing and centrifugal extracting machine, a support, a unitary tub. rotatable on said support on a non-vertical axis, variable speed operating means for selectively rotating said tub at a low speed for washing at a relatively higher centrifuging speed, said tub having a baflled washing compartment and a separate norm-ally non-communicating centrifuging compartment, means to admit fluid to said washing compartment, selectively operable means for opening communication and for transferring fluid to said centrifuging compartment from said washing compartment, and stationary ejector tube means associated with said centrifuging compartment, whereby upon rotation at said low speed materials within said tub are caused. to be tumbled within said fluid and said fluid is caused to. be subsequently transferred to said centrifuging compartment, and whereby upon rotation at said higher speed said fluid is caused to be forcefully discharged from said tub through said stationary ejector tube means.

-6.'I'n a fabric washing and centrifuging extracting machine, a support, a unitary tub rotatable on said support on a non-vertical axis, said tub having separate washing and discharging compartments, variable speed operating means for selectively rotating said tub at a low speed for washing and at a relatively higher speed for centrifugal extraction, means to admit washing fluid to said washing compartment, elevating means intenposed between said washing compartment and said discharging compartment for transferringfluid from said washing compartment to said discharging compartment at said low speed, and a stationary ejector tube within said discharging compartment having an open inlet end disposed in opposition to.;the direction .ofrotation of saidtub to forcefully dis- 9 charge fluid from said tub upon rotation thereof at said higher speed.

7. In a tumble action washer employing a rotatable cylindrical container Within a speed of rotation for tumble action washing and a higher speed of rotation for centrifugal extraction, a substantially imperforate cylindrical portion of said container providing a clothes and fluid containing compartment and an adjacent fluid discharge compartment, mechanism operable to transfer fluid from said clothes containing compartment to said discharge compartment during tumble action rotation, a stationary ejector tube in said discharge compartment having an inlet opening 'near the periphery of said discharge compartment and disposed in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said container and operable at centrifuging speed of rotation of said container to remove fluid from said compartment, further transfer mechanism operable to allow transfer of fluid from :said washing compartment to said discharge compartment during centrifugal extraction rotation of said container.

8. In a tumble action washer of the type employing a rotatable cylindrical container and a speed of rotation for washing and a higher speed for centrifugal extraction, characterized by a clothes and liquid containing tumble action compartment, a discharge compartment, mechanism between said compartments operable to transfer liquid from said washing compartment to said discharge compartment near the end of washing cycle but during tumble action speed of rotation of said container; further mechanism in said discharge compartment for removing liquid therefrom during centrifugal extraction speed of rotation of said container, and further mechanism operable at centrifugal speed to allow transfer of the liquid from said clothes containing compartment to said discharge compartment.

9. A mechanism of the character described employing a rotatable clothes containing compartment and a liquid discharge compartment, mechanism for moving free liquid from said washing compartment during washing speed of rotation to said discharge compartment; further mechanism in said discharge compartment comprising a pickup tube having a liquid opening positioned in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said container thereby to discharge liquid from said compartment at centrifuging speed, and further and separate mechanism for allowing transfer of liquid from said washing compartment to said discharge compartment during centrifuging speed of rotation of said container; said last mentioned mechanism comprising a centrifugally operated valve positioned adjacent the circumference of said container and operable at centrifuging speed of rotation to open a passageway between said washing compartment and said discharge compartment.

10. A mechanism of the character described employing a tumble action washing compartment and an adjacent discharge compartment, mechanism in said discharge compartment comprising a pickup tube operable at centrifuging speed to discharge liquid from said compartment with a force suflicient to act as a pump to lift liquid to a height desired above the level of said compartment outside said mechanism, and transfer mechanism between said washing compartment and said discharge compartment operable during a portion of the tumble action washing portion of the cycle of operation of said mechanism thereby to transfer free liquid from said washing compartment to said discharge compartment during washing speed rotation of said container, said mechanism comprising a lifting channel between said Washing compartment and said discharge compartment thereby to carry liquid from a point near the periphery of said washing compartment toward the center of said washing compartment and valve means located at the center of said container operable to open during the later portion of said washing rotation and to be closed during the tumble action washing or rinsing cycle of said mechanism where by free liquid is removed from said washing container to said discharge container at tumble speed of rotation and mechanism operable to remove liquid from said discharge compartment during centrifugal extraction speed of rotation and further mechanism to provide transfer of liquid from said washing compartment to said discharge compartment during centrifugal extraction speed of rotation of said container.

11. In a mechanism of the character described a Washing container and a discharge container rotatable about an axis at a tumble action washing speed and at a centrifugal extraction speed, a valve located substantially on the axis of rotation of said container operable to be opened during a portion of tumble action rotation of said container, a pickup channel having an opening near the periphery of said washing container to lift liquid by rotation of said container from said washing container to said discharge container through said valve opening, a pickup mechanism in said discharge container operable during centrifugal extraction speed of rotation to remove liquid from said discharge container.

12. In a tumble action washer and centrifugal extractor, a substantially imperforate cylindrical container having a washing compartment and a discharge compartment, a dividing wall between said washing compartment and said discharge compartment, fluid pickup means on said dividing wall formed to direct fluid from said washing compartment toward the center of said wall, valve mechanism operable to transfer fluid from said pickup means to said discharge compartment during a selected time during rotation of said container, an ejector tube in said discharge compartment positioned to remove liquid from said compartment on centrifugal speeds of rotation of said container and fluid transfer means operable also at centrifuging speed to allow transfer of fluid from said washing compartment to said discharge compartment.

13. In a mechanism of the character described having a washing container and a discharge container rotatable about an axis at tumble action washing speed and at a centrifugal extraction speed, valve mechanism located near the axis of rotation for transferring liquid from said washing container to said discharge container during tumble action Washing speed of rotation, further valve mechanism operable at centrifuging speed of rotation and near the outer periphery of said containers to allow transfer of liquid from said washing container to said discharge container, and a pickup tube in said discharge container to withdraw liquid therefrom during centrifugal extraction speed of rotation.

14. In a mechanism of the character described having a washing container rotatable at washing and centrifugal extraction speeds of rotation and an adjacent discharge container normally non-communicating with said washing container but rotatable therewith, characterized by a pickup tube in said discharge container operable during centrifugal extraction to remove liquid from said discharge container, and transfer means operable during the later portion of washing speed of rotation to establish communication and to remove free water from said washing container to said discharge container.

15. In a mechanism of the character described having a washing container rotatable at washing and centrifugal extraction speeds of rotation and an adjacent discharge container normally non-communicating with said washing container, characterized by a fluid ejecting means in said discharge container operable during centrifugal extraction to remove liquid from said discharge container, and transfer means operable during the later portion of washing speed of rotation to establish communication and to remove free water from said washing container to said discharge container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,284,243 Zimarik May 26, 1943 2,561,186 Dunham July 17, 1951 2,615,320 Belaiefi Oct. 28, 1952 

